Intonation sharp at the 12th fret

[WilburPost]

I just put new strings on my Gibson Spirit II electric guitar and while I was tuning it with my Korg digital chromatic tuner, I noticed that all six strings run about 10 to 15 cents sharp at the 12th fret. I don't know if this has anything to do with the new strings, but I'm wondering if I should expect better from a well-tuned Gibson electric?

The last time I had it professionally worked on was about 4 years ago. Time for another tune up?

[albertbert]

Nothing to worry about, you just need to adjust the intonation. Changing string gauges or adjusting the truss rod can throw the intonation out.

http://www.everythingsg.com/setup.htm
That explains what intonation is, and how to adjust it. And how to do other setup things.

i think this link might be better
http://users.powernet.co.uk/guitars/setup3.htm

[WilburPost]

Thanks for the links! Unfortunately, one snag is that most of the string saddles on my Schaller bridge are already cranked all the way south. Here's an example I found online:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Schallerbridge.JPG

With the saddles already as far down as they can go, I'm not sure what the next step is. :confuse:

A note about this image: on my setup I've always installed the removable string mount the other way around so that the string ends are hidden beneath it.

[Peeb]

Maybe back to the pro?

[WilburPost]

I'm wondering if there wouldn't be some way to lower the bridge just a little. The bridge "floats," i.e., it's held in position by the string tension pulling it up against those two big screws. However, the screws don't appear to snug up against the bridge, rather turning them just raises or lowers the action.

It seems to me that I could insert some kind of metal spacer between the screw shafts and bridge to move it down a little with minimum fuss. Or am I looking for trouble?

Anybody know much about these Schaller Gibson bridges? I can't find much info online.

Thanks.

[reeced]

From the Stewmac site, it looks like your bridge should have two adjustable screws to push it forwards or backwards on the bridge posts

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Schaller_Bridge_Tailpiece.html

If it doesn't, then you could either buy one that does, or do what I did once - find someone who can drill/tap a couple of screws in the existing bridge.

[WilburPost]

From the Stewmac site, it looks like your bridge should have two adjustable screws to push it forwards or backwards on the bridge posts

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Schaller_Bridge_Tailpiece.html

If it doesn't, then you could either buy one that does, or do what I did once - find someone who can drill/tap a couple of screws in the existing bridge.
Wow! That's exactly what I don't have, and exactly what I need! :)

Thanks!

[WilburPost]

Upon further examination of my own hardware I discovered that my bridge already has the holes drilled for a pair of adjustment screws. I rounded up a pair of screws that fit, pulled the bridge down about a quarter inch, and WOW! WOW! WOW!! My sweetie sings like never before!!! :drunk:

Thanks again everybody for your help. :)